Design Translates Health in Community

Summer 2020

Multi-disciplinary Design Junior, Kassie John has spent the past summer designing resources for the Office of American Indian & Alaskan Native Health Affairs. Through extensive community outreach and training, Kassie’s process led her to the design and development of Opiod educational materials that speak to the health and education of American Indian and Alaskan Native peoples. As an Indigenous designer, Kassie’s interests beyond this internship have led her to explore her own design values and the meaning behind Indigenous Womxnhood.

Kassie: Ya’at’eeh, Shi ei Kassie John yinishye. To’ahani nishli, Bit’ahnii bashishchiin, Ashiihii da shicheii, doo kinlichii’nii da shinali.  [Translation] Hello my friends and relations, my name is Kassie John. I am Near the Water the clan, born for the Folded Arms people clan, my maternal grandparents are the Salt clan and my paternal grandparents are from the Red Towering House clan. I am from Rock Point and Chilchinbeto, AZ.

Design Utah: Tell us about the work you are doing in your internship position.
Kassie: My intern position at Utah Health Department (UDH) is "marketing" but I'm actually doing a little bit of everything. I specifically work with the Office of American Indian & Alaskan Native (AI/AN) Health Affairs. In the beginning of my internship, I did a lot of researching and community outreach/training. Now I'm making Opioid related educational materials (pamphlets, posters, and social media items). I would say my job is to "translate" UDH materials/messaging for AI/AN communities here in Utah. The materials my team and I create, we hope it will resonate and communicate applicable health education to AI/AN peoples.

Design Utah: How has design played a role in the way you think about community?
Kassie: My sense of community definitely has shifted (under the influence of design) for the better. Design has the power to create spaces of learning and open dialogue. I believe with design, I can create a sense of "community" to others through my work. Where I can share my interpretation of a community's values in an effort to bridge their knowledge to a stranger.  However, my values as a designer have always been centered around the belief that the true experts are the "people" themselves (not someone who is outside of their circle).

Design Utah: Beyond your internship position, how do you hope to carry the values and ethics you've developed into future design work?
Kassie: Beyond my internship and outside commission work, I try to challenge myself by exploring and expanding upon my values as an Indigenous designer. I see my designs as stories, that people can interact or connect with. So when I begin a project, I try to maintain the social/cultural connectedness to it (even if the brief does not specifically ask for this). Recently, I've been working on researching and illustrating "Indigenous Womxnhood."

To view more of Kassie’s work, visit her Instagram here.

< Back to Students